Now that travelling is back on, it might be time for some much-overdue family and friends visits! No matter if they’re planning on staying overnight, or for a few nights in a row, it’s time to turn your spare room into a guest room.
Whether you have a dedicated guest room, an office, box or craft room you convert when you have visitors, there are many ways you can make your home an inviting place for guests to stay and turn your spare room into a guest room.
Aim for comfort and luxury
The bed
There’s nothing like the feeling of luxury when relaxing in a beautifully made hotel bed. If you’re upgrading your own mattress, it might be tempting to put your old one in your spare room, but if it’s sagging and uncomfortable, your guests are likely to sleep poorly.
Ensure they have a good night’s sleep by choosing a quality mattress and bed base. If you want your room to convert for multiple uses, pick a sofa bed with high ratings for comfort that you can easily fold up when not in use. Offer both low and high-profile pillows so your guests won’t wake up with a sore neck in the morning, no matter their sleep style.
The linen
Likewise, choose the highest thread count sheets within budget, made of natural materials like linen, organic cotton and bamboo for ideal temperature control.
Consider the seasons and offer layers – if your guests are staying during winter, provide a warm duvet and have an extra blanket on hand in case they get cold overnight. In summer, add a lighter blanket so they can switch it out if they’re too hot.
Make the bed up fresh each time you have visitors, rather than washing the sheets and remaking the bed straight away to avoid them gathering dust. Purchase fluffy towels and opt for bath-sheet size for a luxurious experience your guests will appreciate – and make them a different colour or pattern to the other towels in the house, so they don’t get mixed up.
Dress it up
Create a calming oasis away from the chaos of the rest of the house so your guests have a restful place they can retreat to during their stay.
Try and clear as much clutter and personal belongings as possible from the space you’re using as a guest room. You can also make it feel inviting by adding some artwork to the walls and dressing the bed with a crisp, clean duvet cover, blankets and throw pillows in calming shades.
For inspiration, think about what you’ve seen at hotels or have a look at display homes or real estate photos. Make sure you have bedside tables or nightstands on both sides of the bed, so your guests have a spot to put their phone, glasses, water and other essentials at night.
Provide amenities
Roll the towels and present them beautifully on the bed or in a basket, so your guests have everything they need when they arrive.
If they’ll be using a shared bathroom and shower, providing travel-size bath gel, shampoo and conditioner bottles is a nice touch, so they don’t have to share with anyone else. If the shower isn’t in use other than for guests, stock it with full-size bottles and let them know they’re welcome to use them.
It’s inevitable that things will be forgotten when travelling, so have a stash of spare toothbrushes, toothpaste and other necessities available, so they don’t have to run to the shops.
The small touches
Nothing is worse than staying in an unfamiliar room and having to get up to turn the light off at night. A bedside lamp is a must for a comfortable stay, especially if your guest is a bookworm. Choose one with an adjustable arm and an easily located control button so it’s simple to use.
A vase of fresh or artificial flowers is a welcoming touch and for a fresh-smelling room, use incense sticks or a room spray. Provide a basket of snacks and fruit so guests don’t have to come rummaging in the kitchen if they get hungry – this is a great opportunity to provide some local delicacies. You can also add a few extra touches, like a spare phone charger or a box of tissues and makeup wipes!
Storage is essential
There’s nothing worse than having nowhere to place your bags or suitcase when you’re travelling. Save your guests this hassle and put a luggage rack in the room – they’re inexpensive and can be folded away when not in use.
If possible, clear out drawers and offer hanging and storage space for your guest to store their clothing and other items. A free-standing clothes rack and small drawers are an alternative if the room doesn’t have inbuilt storage or the existing wardrobe has no space – and don’t forget some hangers!
WiFi
It’s a thoughtful idea to provide the WiFi password to your guests on arrival, especially if you live in an area with poor network coverage, or you’re hosting guests from overseas who might have limited data. A fun idea is to make a small photo-sized sign with the connection details and frame it, so it’s available for any guests who stay.
No matter what space you’re using as a guest room, there are easy ways to make visitors feel welcomed. It doesn’t take much effort to turn your spare room into guest room up for a comfortable stay – it’s the small touches that they’ll appreciate.
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